Tangem has announced its innovative approach to integrating self-custody with everyday payment systems, allowing users to maintain control over their assets while seamlessly making transactions. This initiative, called Tangem Pay, enables users to spend USDC globally using a virtual Visa card, all while ensuring their funds remain on-chain.
The key feature of Tangem Pay is its integration into the existing Tangem Wallet app, where it functions as a non-custodial payment account. This allows users to load their accounts with USD COIN (USDC) on the Polygon network and make purchases either online or in physical stores, leveraging popular payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay without needing to convert their cryptocurrency beforehand.
When it comes time to make a purchase, the USDC is converted 1:1 into USD through Visa’s network, ensuring a smooth transaction process that keeps the user’s balance on-chain until the exact moment of the purchase. Tangem emphasizes that this model allows users to retain control of their private keys. The security framework involves two keys, where users hold one and the issuing partner, Rain, retains the other solely for the purpose of confirming card authorizations. Importantly, Rain does not have the ability to move funds that have not been intentionally spent.
In a notable point regarding user privacy, Tangem has clarified that the identity verification measures apply exclusively to Tangem Pay, leaving the privacy of the Tangem Wallet intact. Users will not encounter any monthly or transaction fees; the only costs they will incur are standard gas fees on the Polygon network and Visa’s applicable foreign exchange fees for international transactions.
The rollout of Tangem Pay is set to commence in late November, with an initial focus on the United States, Latin America, and several regions in Asia-Pacific. Countries included in this initial rollout are Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, and the UAE. Users will be activated gradually from a waitlist, with a physical card version of the service expected to be introduced at a later stage.
Looking ahead, Tangem plans to expand its offerings to the United Kingdom and the European Union in the first quarter of 2026. This timeline aligns with the company’s commitment to comply with regulatory frameworks, such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in the EU.
Through this initiative, Tangem aims to provide a practical application of cryptocurrency that maintains the fundamental principles of self-custody, delivering real-world utility without sacrificing security or user autonomy.
